Panoramic Cameras

There are two basic types of panoramic cameras, the conventional camera with wide angle lens and the scanning camera. Conventional cameras are limited to a 100 degree view which is what a 18mm lens on a 35mm camera gives. Scanning cameras either have a swing lens which gives up to 140 degrees view or a rotating body/fixed lens which can photograph more than a 360 degree view.

CONVENTIONAL CAMERAS WITH WIDE ANGLE LENS

camera	film format	frame size (mm)	angle of viewē
Hasselblad Xpan	35mm	24 x 65	94 (30mm lens)
fisheye lens	35mm	24 x 36	up to 180
Linhof, Fuji, Artpan 617	120	60 x 170	up to 100

This type of panoramic camera uses a cropped view to achieve the long skinny look of a panoramic image, this can be proven by using the same lens on a larger format, the view is exactly the same with more foreground and sky. Crop out the foreground and sky and you're back to the same image.

Fuji 617

This is the back open showing the extra long film gate, negative size is 60 x 170mm which gives 4 shots on a roll of 120 film. Angle of view is just over 80 degrees with 105mm lens. If the lens was used on a 5x7 camera the centre part of the image would be identical to the 617 neg.

SCANNING CAMERAS

This type of camera is a true panoramic camera because it doesn't rely on cropping the image to get the panoramic look. Scanning cameras fall into two groups, either swing lens where the body is stationary and the lens swings in an arc or rotational where the lens is fixed and the whole camera rotates.

The exposure principle is the same for both, the view is exposed onto film through a narrow slit and a continuous image is built up as the slit is moved across the film. This technology was first used by Friedrich von Martens in 1844.

Von Martens camera was the first to use a swing lens and curved film plate. Hand crank (a) turned gear (b) which swiveled lens (c) slit (d) projects the image onto film (e)

SWING LENS CAMERAS

camera	film format	frame size (mm)	angle of viewē
Widelux F6/7/8	35mm	24 x 59	130
Horizon 202	35mm	24 x 58	120
Noblex 135	35mm	24 x 66	127
Widelux 1500	120	50 x 122	140
Horizon 205pc	120	52 x 122	140
Noblex pro150	120	50 x 120	132

These modern swing lens cameras are direct decendants of Von Martens camera and operate on the same principle but use either electric or spring motors to drive the swing mechanism.

ROTATING CAMERAS

Rotating cameras can photograph up to 360 degrees, in fact they can photograph more by doing multiple rotations, the only limit is the length of film in the camera. The lens is fixed and the whole body of the camera rotates about it's own axis. The film is driven past the exposure slit in synchronisation with camera rotation, this effectively records a static scene on moving film. The best known rotating camera and considered the greatest panoramic camera ever is the Kodak Cirkut camera. More info on the Cirkut can be found here. Cirkut Camera Page

Inside a rotating scanning camera.

(a) film spool (b) exposure slit (c) drive capstan and(d) take up (spool not shown).

Film feeds from (a) across (b) where exposure takes place, (c) is driving continuously pulling film across (b), (d) is winding exposed film onto an empty spool.
All this happens as the camera rotates and camera rotation is sychronised with the rotation speed of (c).

Today the Seitz Roundshot cameras are the most advanced and versatile rotating panoramic cameras. The 220VR is capable of taking panoramic, linear and peripheral images with the use of accessories designed for this purpose.

Roundshot cameras

left,65/5 inch, 65mm lens/5 inch film
centre, 35/35s, 35mm lens/35mm film
right, 65/70, 65mm lens/220 & 70mm film

camera	film format	frame size (mm)	angle of viewē
Roundshot 65/70	120	54 x 412+	360+
Scantech Voyageur 50	120	54 x 312+	360+
Hulcherama	120	54 x 225+	360+
Cirkut #6	6 1/2 inch	160 x 1200+	360+